Sea greens, also known as sea vegetables, are a group of foods in the seaweed family, that grow in the ocean. If you eat Japanese food you may be familiar with some sea greens – nori, the dark green wrapper on your sushi, or kombu, a common ingredient in miso soup. If you think you’ve never had seaweed, think again! Agar, a gelatinous substance that comes from red seaweed is used as a thickener in many foods. Sea vegetables are some of the most nutrient-packed foods on earth, packed with fiber vitamins and minerals. They are beneficial to us because they slow the aging process by promoting... Read More

Sugar is everywhere, almost impossible to avoid.  It’s in foods like bread, pasta sauce, salad dressing, and ketchup. It can be challenging to find sugar in your food because nutrition labels are not required to list all sugar.  In 2018, nutrition labels will be required to call out all added sugar but, in the meantime, you’ll have to do some sugar sleuthing to manage your sugar intake. The Institute of Medicine has made recommendations for sugar intake.  Since sugar isn’t a required nutrient in the diet, the institute has not issued a recommended dietary allowance, but does suggest... Read More

Did you know that a green (unripe) banana confers its own unique health benefits? Green bananas are a good source of fiber, vitamins, and minerals, and contain resistant starch which cannot be broken down by enzymes in your digestive system and, therefore, acts more like fiber. Including foods high in resistant starch in your diet may reduce your risk of diabetes and heart disease by aiding in blood sugar control and lowering blood cholesterol levels. Bananas have higher levels of antioxidants as they ripen. Fully ripened bananas produce a substance called Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF). TNF regulates... Read More

Recently, an article in Forbes magazine highlighted a study in Australia that claimed, when it came to weight loss, there was no significant difference in people assigned to skip breakfast and those assigned to eat it. Some in the intermittent fasting community say you should not eat anything before 11AM, so your eating cycle can go on later in the day and make you less likely to break the fast before bedtime. While these assertions may be true, there are some good reasons to eat breakfast. There are studies that show those who eat earlier in the day lose more weight than those who eat later in... Read More

If you’re looking to eat right and feel great at the same time, there are some foods that you should consider adding to your menu. While there are plenty of healthy foods out there that you can choose from, the foods listed in this article are some of my favorites. They are all super nutritious and will help you to maintain robust health and a strong physique. These foods will also enhance your body’s health from the inside to the outside!   Chia seeds – A powerhouse of vitamins and nutrients, chia seeds are also a great alternative to the more processed grains you may be faced... Read More

Recently, I had dinner at my favorite Mexican restaurant.  Usually I get a meal and don’t have room for the sopapilla that comes with it, but this time I took the sopapilla home to eat later. When I was ready to eat it, I was surprised to see that the “honey” for the sopapilla was not honey at all. It was fake honey made with corn syrup. I happened to have some locally source honey at home and used that instead of the faux honey. This is just one of the reasons it’s important to read labels. If you’re trying to change your life by eating fewer processed foods, less sugar, or any number... Read More

Cruciferous vegetables are vegetables of the family Brassicaceae such as cauliflower, cabbage, bok choy, broccoli, Brussels sprouts and similar green leaf vegetables. High in vitamin C and soluble fiber with multiple nutrients and phytochemicals, cruciferous vegetables are one of the dominant food crops worldwide. In the fall, cruciferous veggies like Brussels sprouts and cauliflower are abundant.  Perhaps you’d like to try something new?  Allow me to introduce you to some cruciferous veggies you might not have tried. Mizuna.  Also known as Japanese mustard greens, mizuna has a rich, peppery... Read More

This weekend I will be joining the MJFITNUT Team in taking on my first Spartan obstacle course! My training for this 3-5 mile race, with 15-20 obstacles, has included cannabis, and I will be consuming cannabis on race day. My teammates for this race are also cannabis users. Joining me is my husband Antonio, and Marie Peel, who is a co-owner of Denver’s 420 friendly transportation service, High End Transportation. Peel is an excellent example of a Spartan who uses cannabis. She is a U.S. Navy Veteran who has completed several Spartan Races. She’s even completed the famed Trifecta. Joining the... Read More

Having recently made a personal commitment to achieve a better work life balance, I find myself feeling encouraged to talk about stress, mental health, and even share a bit about my own life’s stressors. Mental health is very important, and the stress of life’s bountiful challenges can take a toll on it very quickly. Gary Vaynerchuk is quoted as saying, “Everybody has shit”, and he’s right. We all have our own shit in our lives we have to deal with. It can often be easy to get caught up in it, to the point you may not consider other people are going through their own shit, so keep that... Read More

For me, the morning is the most important part of my day. I like to wake up early, around 5:00 or 6:00, to enjoy the sunrise and peacefulness the morning has to offer. This time sets my mind and body for the rest of the day, so I try to make it as productive and beneficial to get it started on good vibes. However, I wake up daily to one of my cats crawling all over me and meowing in my face until I get out of bed. He really likes his snacks and to be let outside on the deck to watch the birds. I then start the coffee and consume cannabis. I suffer from idiopathic epilepsy with grand mal seizures,... Read More

Between work, practice, and competitions, some of which you have to travel for, all while taking care of family life at home, it can be difficult to find time for nutritious whole food meals when you’re always on the go. The easiest way to solve this issue is by doing some simple meal prepping, which is what we’re going to talk about today. After reading this you’ll walk away with a few easy strategies that will not only save you time in the kitchen, but your mind and body will thank you for providing it with the natural medicine of whole foods. By incorporating natural whole foods into... Read More

As a Cannabis Athlete and someone who believes health is wealth, I’m consistently looking at my nutritional intake and hemp seeds are one of the most nutritious seeds in the world. My friend and professional MMA fighter, Adam Meredith, also consumes hemp as one of his primary protein sources. They are a complete protein and contain all of the essential amino acids our bodies need to survive, including the 10 we must get from our diet. They are also packed full of vitamins, enzymes, and have a perfect ratio of essential fats omega 3 and 6. Hemp seeds are easily digestible and have no known allergens.... Read More

Why is hemp protein so good for you? Well, there are many health benefits of hemp, and below you’ll find the top 5 organic hemp protein powders. You can easily add any of these to your diet for a healthy boost of protein, dietary fiber, minerals, and antioxidants. All of these brands offer a pure organic hemp protein powder, which has a mild taste and nutty like flavor. You can drink it with your favorite plant milk, add it to smoothies, homemade protein or granola bars, and baked goods. Hemp protein powder is made from the seeds of the hemp plant. Hemp seeds have the ideal 3:1 balance of omega... Read More

CVS recently announced it will start carrying hemp derived CBD products in 800 stores  throughout eight states across the country. This includes states like Colorado and California, but also more conservative states like Kentucky, Indiana, and Tennessee. The company plans to carry a line of CBD topical products made by Curaleaf. Within less than a week of the news, Walgreens made a similar entrance into the CBD market when they announced they will carry CBD topicals in almost 1,500 stores in several states. So why should GNC be stocking their shelves with CBD like CVS and Walgreens? In an interview... Read More

The Terpenes and Testing Magazine World Conference, described as “the most promising and comprehensive cannabis science expo in the United States,” was held April 11-12 in San Jose, CA. This two-day conference was a collection of the top cannabis science experts in the world. It is currently the largest gathering of cannabis science thought leaders on the planet and I feel honored to have been involved. Antonio and I both had the pleasure of participating as panelists on their Hemp Panel. We spoke about how hemp is part of our daily lives as a food source, a natural plant medicine, and how... Read More

Cannabis can be consumed in several forms. You can smoke it, vape it, eat it, and apply it topically to your skin to be absorbed into the blood stream. One way to take advantage of the health benefits of cannabis is to add the plant to your diet. A lot of people think about eating hemp foods, or hemp protein powder when they think about consuming cannabis for nutrition. Another way, growing in popularity, is to juice raw cannabis leaves like you would any other fruit or vegetable. Health and Wellness The health benefits of juicing raw cannabis come in many forms. First, you have similar nutritional... Read More

With the legalization of cannabis across more states and the stigma surrounding the plant and its users shifting, so has the demographic of people benefiting from the plant. According to the CDC, Americans aged 55-64 who use marijuana regularly has risen by 455%. Those aged 65 and older has risen by 333% from 2002-2014. Why is this shift occurring and how can seniors benefit from cannabis? We know that each person has their own endocannabinoid system. The endocannabioid system has recently been recognized as the most important modulatory system within the body. It is responsible for regulating... Read More

Athletes train and fuel their bodies to operate at optimal levels in their sport. CBD is the non psychoactive compound found in cannabis. It is a non toxic, natural option that provides multiple mental and physical benefits. The recent announcement by the WADA (World Anti Doping Agency) to remove CBD from the banned substance list in 2018 provides a safer option to many athletes. With athletes and individuals allowed to consume CBD legally in all 50 states, it is diminishing the stigma surrounding cannabis and its users. It has the potential to provide a better quality of life when provided as... Read More

As the New Year quickly approaches, so does the opportunity to reflect on the previous year and make resolutions for yourself in 2018! Setting and engaging in your goals for improvement throughout the year can have significant impacts on your personal growth and happiness. If you’re a cannabis enthusiast, or new to the plant, there are many resolutions you can make to get you excited for change! Education Whether you’re new to cannabis, or are interested in learning more about the plant’s benefits, there are several ways to educate yourself and others. If you want to consume more, less,... Read More

With the holidays quickly approaching, I’m sure there are still those who have gifts to buy.  Giving the gift of hemp this holiday season is sure to excite any Cannabis lover and any environmentally or health conscious person!  If you’re already a hemp supporter like me, asking for gifts made from hemp could promote conversations for those that may not be aware of the many items made from the plant! If you’re already finished with your holiday shopping and would still like to include hemp for the season, you could make a food dish that introduces hemp for your next holiday get together!... Read More